Copy and paste this worksheet as a separate page linked to the Homepage of your portfolio. DO NOT type your answers on THIS document because it needs to be used by other students. The title of your page which replies to these questions is linked to your portfolio and should begin with the first initials of your first and last name. (In my case, the link to this worksheet from my portfolio page would read frqueensgarden.)
You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them ontime (no later than Sunday, January 18 at or before 12:01am). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0. You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammer and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
- In the beginning of the play, Brenda Aoki (Brenda Jean) introduces herself and her surroundings in San Francisco in the year 1966. Throughout the play other characters are introduced and then re-introduced: Kali (her on/off boyfriend), Aunti Mary (Kali's mother,), Sherry (her high school friend), Smoke (Kali's friend, Sherry's boyfriend), Hai (her high school friend, then roommate), and then a few other less significant characters such as her family and a high school friend named Steven. The play begins when Brenda is 13 and goes through certain "big moments" in her life until around her early 20's.
2. What is the intrusion?
- The intrusion in this story is when Kali and Brenda have their first actual fight. During this fight, it is revealed that the two both have very different visions for their lives after graduating high school (Brenda wants to leave Westside and Kali does not). After this, the time skips forward a few years in order for Brenda to continue telling her story.
3. What is the unique factor?
- The unique factor is that this is the day which Brenda tells us her story and describes these events that she recalls throughout her life.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
- Throughout the play, a constant question of whether Kali and Brenda Jean will end up together is prevalent. At the end of the play, however, there are many open-ended questions such as: will Brenda's life be normal now since the people holding her back are gone? Did Sherry get out of the Westside? Does the environment in which they grew up in continue to fall apart? Where is Hai? Does racial tension continue in the Westside?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
- One example of exposition that everyone knows is the setting of the Westside. Everyone in the play knows it to be the "messier" side of town, even those who live there. Another example of exposition is when Brenda reveals that she plans to leave, get and education, and move away permanently. No one in the play knew this was her plan until she revealed it to them (Kali, her family).
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
- There were many very dramatic moments throughout the play that could have been considered the most theatrical, however the scene in which a fight between everyone breaks out seems to be the most prominent. In this scene, "The Riot," a huge fight between what is assumed to be all of the teenagers in San Francisco happens and Brenda describes walking through it, flashing a "WS" on one hand to show that she is from the Westside and a class ring that received to show that she is cool with any white people as well. The way that she tells the story of this is very dramatic and theatrical in that you can truly imagine exactly what is happening. This scene is also very important because it is the largest portrayal of the unrest between classes and races in the play.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
- Some of the most obvious themes in this play are racism, racial conflict, poverty, violence, education, and minority struggles. Smaller themes include: drugs and alcohol, rape, family expectations, and language.
8. What does the narrator want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of her getting what she wants?
- As Brenda ages, her wants change. In the very beginning, she wants to be with Kali but does not believe this will happen because she is "not pretty enough." She thinks her eczema, acne, and being overweight will keep Kali from liking her (me v myself). A few years later, it is revealed that she really just wants to leave the Westside and become successful. Her family and leaving Kali makes this difficult but she is still able to leave permanently in the end (me v others). When she is teaching at the high school that she graduated from, she wants to make a change in the children that teaches but has trouble doing so because they are stubborn and set in their current ways (me v others/ society).
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
- The image that relates to the title of the play is the roses in Aunti Mary's garden. Throughout the play, the garden is a reoccurring symbol of Brenda seeing the beauty of the Westside, though she knows it is not the most peaceful place. The beginning scene, when she meets back up with Kali before the end of the play, and the very end of the play are all significant points and all take place in the garden. In the end, however, the garden is trampled and ruined, showing the change in view of the Westside to that of bloodshed and violence. Another image from a scene is the "WS" written on Brenda's hand and the class ring that she bears throughout the riot. They show the division between people in the community.These two things can also symbolize how Brenda is stuck in the middle of the Westside (her home, her raising) and who she envisions herself to be (middle-upper class and successful).
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
- Family is defined as many different ways throughout the play. Brenda's immediate, blood family is there and supports her financially while still being very harsh about her decisions as she gets older. Kali and Aunti Mary are also considered her "family" although they are not related, they are very close and it is portrayed throughout the play since they act very close. Hai is like family to Brenda as well, they live together and become very close. Brenda considers her like a sister.
Brenda's story from her point of view, other character's are portrayed through her opinion of them
one group vs another
her family is part of her background experience as a person
different types of education
the way that language is used throughout the play - used as a way of separating and identifying people
Copy and paste this worksheet as a separate page linked to the Homepage of your portfolio. DO NOT type your answers on THIS document because it needs to be used by other students. The title of your page which replies to these questions is linked to your portfolio and should begin with the first initials of your first and last name. (In my case, the link to this worksheet from my portfolio page would read frqueensgarden.)
You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them ontime (no later than Sunday, January 18 at or before 12:01am). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0.
You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammer and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
- In the beginning of the play, Brenda Aoki (Brenda Jean) introduces herself and her surroundings in San Francisco in the year 1966. Throughout the play other characters are introduced and then re-introduced: Kali (her on/off boyfriend), Aunti Mary (Kali's mother,), Sherry (her high school friend), Smoke (Kali's friend, Sherry's boyfriend), Hai (her high school friend, then roommate), and then a few other less significant characters such as her family and a high school friend named Steven. The play begins when Brenda is 13 and goes through certain "big moments" in her life until around her early 20's.
2. What is the intrusion?
- The intrusion in this story is when Kali and Brenda have their first actual fight. During this fight, it is revealed that the two both have very different visions for their lives after graduating high school (Brenda wants to leave Westside and Kali does not). After this, the time skips forward a few years in order for Brenda to continue telling her story.
3. What is the unique factor?
- The unique factor is that this is the day which Brenda tells us her story and describes these events that she recalls throughout her life.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
- Throughout the play, a constant question of whether Kali and Brenda Jean will end up together is prevalent. At the end of the play, however, there are many open-ended questions such as: will Brenda's life be normal now since the people holding her back are gone? Did Sherry get out of the Westside? Does the environment in which they grew up in continue to fall apart? Where is Hai? Does racial tension continue in the Westside?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
- One example of exposition that everyone knows is the setting of the Westside. Everyone in the play knows it to be the "messier" side of town, even those who live there. Another example of exposition is when Brenda reveals that she plans to leave, get and education, and move away permanently. No one in the play knew this was her plan until she revealed it to them (Kali, her family).
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
- There were many very dramatic moments throughout the play that could have been considered the most theatrical, however the scene in which a fight between everyone breaks out seems to be the most prominent. In this scene, "The Riot," a huge fight between what is assumed to be all of the teenagers in San Francisco happens and Brenda describes walking through it, flashing a "WS" on one hand to show that she is from the Westside and a class ring that received to show that she is cool with any white people as well. The way that she tells the story of this is very dramatic and theatrical in that you can truly imagine exactly what is happening. This scene is also very important because it is the largest portrayal of the unrest between classes and races in the play.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
- Some of the most obvious themes in this play are racism, racial conflict, poverty, violence, education, and minority struggles. Smaller themes include: drugs and alcohol, rape, family expectations, and language.
8. What does the narrator want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of her getting what she wants?
- As Brenda ages, her wants change. In the very beginning, she wants to be with Kali but does not believe this will happen because she is "not pretty enough." She thinks her eczema, acne, and being overweight will keep Kali from liking her (me v myself). A few years later, it is revealed that she really just wants to leave the Westside and become successful. Her family and leaving Kali makes this difficult but she is still able to leave permanently in the end (me v others). When she is teaching at the high school that she graduated from, she wants to make a change in the children that teaches but has trouble doing so because they are stubborn and set in their current ways (me v others/ society).
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
- The image that relates to the title of the play is the roses in Aunti Mary's garden. Throughout the play, the garden is a reoccurring symbol of Brenda seeing the beauty of the Westside, though she knows it is not the most peaceful place. The beginning scene, when she meets back up with Kali before the end of the play, and the very end of the play are all significant points and all take place in the garden. In the end, however, the garden is trampled and ruined, showing the change in view of the Westside to that of bloodshed and violence. Another image from a scene is the "WS" written on Brenda's hand and the class ring that she bears throughout the riot. They show the division between people in the community.These two things can also symbolize how Brenda is stuck in the middle of the Westside (her home, her raising) and who she envisions herself to be (middle-upper class and successful).
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
- Family is defined as many different ways throughout the play. Brenda's immediate, blood family is there and supports her financially while still being very harsh about her decisions as she gets older. Kali and Aunti Mary are also considered her "family" although they are not related, they are very close and it is portrayed throughout the play since they act very close. Hai is like family to Brenda as well, they live together and become very close. Brenda considers her like a sister.
Brenda's story from her point of view, other character's are portrayed through her opinion of them
one group vs another
her family is part of her background experience as a person
different types of education
the way that language is used throughout the play - used as a way of separating and identifying people